Public Programs

Newsroom of the Smithsonian

Media resources for our public programs. See our Event Calendar for all of our public programs.

Nighttime image of people walking among trees lined with brightly lit, different colored trees.

Trees festively decorated with brightly colored lights dazzle visitors at ZooLights at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Credit: Skip Brown, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

ZooLights Returns Nov. 22 to Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Open Select Evenings Nov. 22 Through Jan. 4; $6 Tickets Required
10.07.2024
National Zoo Public Programs
Woman in a costume speaks animatedly across a table to a group of young children.
National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center Hosts Annual “Air & Scare” Event Oct. 26
09.30.2024
Air and Space Museum Public Programs
Black and white image of a man in a chefs coat standing in front of New York skyline.
Smithsonian Associates Presents “Bobby Flay: Chapter One”
09.19.2024
Public Programs
Computer graphic silhouette of mans shoulder, arm and hands which are holding a microscope and painting a dollar bill.
Smithsonian Launches Season 11 of Flagship Podcast “Sidedoor”
Listeners Can Explore Lesser-Known Smithsonian Stories
09.18.2024
Public Programs Education News
Graphic with purple background and black and white text.
Smithsonian Kicks Off Its Next National Conversation on Race in Chicago
09.16.2024
Public Programs
A brightly colored fantastical creature from a Dia de los muertos event

Smithsonian Institution

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With the Smithsonian
09.13.2024
Public Programs
NMAL logo
National Museum of the American Latino Reveals New Brand
09.12.2024
American Latino Museum Public Programs
Picture of four people facing a wall with text and framed pictures in a museum gallery.
Anacostia Community Museum Hosts “A Night at the Museum”
’90s-Themed Program for Visitors 21+ To Celebrate Museum’s 57th Anniversary
09.05.2024
Anacostia Community Museum Public Programs
Image of a line of women standing in a row in matching gray jumpsuits with helmets sitting at their feet, in front of planes.

The first class of women Air Force pilots, UPT Class 77-08, L-R: Capt. Susan D. Rogers, 1st Lt. Victoria K. Crawford, Capt. Christine E. Schott, Capt. Kathy LaSauce, Capt. Connie J. Engel, 2nd Lt. Carol A. Scherer, 1st Lt. Sandra M. Scott, 2nd Lt. Mary M. Livingston, 2nd Lt. Kathleen Rambo, Capt. Mary E. Donahue.

Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Announces Fall Lectures at Its Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
09.04.2024
Air and Space Museum Public Programs
Image of a group of performers in traditional dress, with long white sleeves, black bodice and high ponytails dancing.

Musical performers synchronously holding their instruments in the air at the museum’s 2023 Chuseok festival. Credit: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of Asian Art Announces Its 2024 Chuseok Family Festival
09.03.2024
Asian Art Museum Public Programs
A group of people sit in folding chairs holding various flags.
National Museum of African Art Hosts Teaching Africa Day
Ninth Annual Daytime Event Focuses on “Storytelling Through the Ages: Past, Present, and Future”
08.29.2024
African Art Museum Public Programs
Image of a row of teenagers standing in front of propped up photographs.

“Teen Photo Exhibition” by Matailong Du, 2016. Courtesy Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.

National Portrait Gallery Announces Teen Portrait Competition Timed With Museum’s “The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today” Exhibition
Call for Entries Opens Sept. 15–Dec. 23
08.26.2024
Portrait Gallery Public Programs
Photograph of people in traditional skull face painting and colorful clothing standing in a line.

Credit: Dancers in front of Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery for Día de los Muertos festival (2023). Photo by Matailong Du.

National Portrait Gallery Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and Día de Los Muertos
08.15.2024
Portrait Gallery Public Programs
Woman modeling a colorful, slightly sheer, abstractly-patterned shawl
Smithsonian Craft2Wear Show Opens Sept. 27
Highlights Include a Special Exhibition of Crafts From South Korea
08.15.2024
Public Programs
Two women sit opposite each other at wooden table, looking at archival books with black and white photos and news cutouts.
National Museum of African American History and Culture To Offer Community Curation Programs in St. Louis and East St. Louis
08.07.2024
African American Museum Public Programs
Headshot of white man smiling in a purple sweater and white collar.

Credit: Andrew Eccles.

Smithsonian Associates Honors Henry Winkler With John P. McGovern Award
08.01.2024
Smithsonian Associates Public Programs
Graphic with collage of images on the left side and blocky font on right side reading Native Cinema Showcase 2024.
National Museum of the American Indian Presents the Best in Indigenous Film in the Native Cinema Showcase in Santa Fe
Special Appearance by Indigenous Screen Legends Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal, Gary Farmer and Wes Studi
07.19.2024
American Indian Museum Public Programs
Image of outer space with bright stars and clouds of purples and blues.

The "Tarantula Nebula" (officially known as 30 Doradus) is a region of active star formation located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighbor galaxy of the Milky Way. X-ray: NASA/CXC/Penn State Univ./L. Townsley et al.; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/JWST ERO Production Team.

Celestial Imagery from the Chanda X-ray Observatory to Appear in Six Metro Stations
07.18.2024
Astrophysical Observatory Public Programs
Graphic logo for Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino with small blue circle and yellow sunburst inside above text
National Museum of the American Latino Kicks Off Annual Community-Conscious Leadership Practicum
07.10.2024
American Latino Museum Public Programs
Folklife Festival 2024
Media Alert: Smithsonian Folklife Festival Continues June 29 to July 1 on National Mall
06.28.2024
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage American Indian Museum Public Programs
SAAM Arcade 2024

Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum; photo by Norwood Photography. 

Smithsonian American Art Museum Hosts 11th Annual SAAM Arcade 2024
Popular Free Public Event Highlights Innovative Video Games That Explore Travel and Adventure
06.27.2024
American Art Museum Public Programs
Graphic of circle split horizontally with yellow on top, blue on bottom.
Smithsonian Welcomes the Start of Summer With “Solstice Saturday”
06.13.2024
Public Programs
Graphic with dark background, blocky typeface, and a black and white image of a woman with short hair smiling.
National Postal Museum Will Host Guest Artist Program
Renowned Stamp Artist Katie Kirk To Participate in Five Free Events
06.03.2024
Postal Museum Public Programs
Red brick castle with sandy walkways in front, people crossing the paths, and white tents in foreground.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival Program To Highlight the Living Traditions of Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere
2024 Program Celebrates the National Museum of the American Indian
05.28.2024
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage American Indian Museum Public Programs

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